Birds in Fall - Backyard Gatherings

Beyond signaling the end of breeding season, autumn also changes the way many birds eat. Once-solitary birds readily associate with other birds in a more collective-style feeding feeding. This is easily seen in the backyards: gatherings of crows, aggregations of grackles, troupes of robins, hordes of starlings.

As you watch your yard birds adjust their feeding to the season, three different ecological concepts are worth knowing.

Guilds. These are assemblages of different species that survive by exploiting similar food in similar places and doing so at the same time. True guilds cross taxonomic boundaries. Thus, topminnows, bats, dragonflies, and swallows comprise a mosquito-eating guild at a marsh. The species minimize or avoid competition by specializing. Two examples: Topminnows eat larvae and bats feed at dusk.Subguilds comprise all the species in a single taxonomic group: seed-eating birds, fruit-eating birds, insect-eating birds.

Commensal feedings. The word "commensal" derives from Old English and means "to share the same table." In symbiosis terms it means some organism derives benefit from associating with another organism but without imposing any harm or loss.Some birds form specific associations to their feeding advantage: Cattle egrets follow large grazing mammals; American coots tag along with swans; common ravens shadow golden eagles.

Mixed flocks. Birds that defend feeding territories during breeding season and work diligently to exclude interlopers willingly join ranks during late autumn and winter. Whereas guilds and commensal feeding are year-round behaviors, mixed flocks are seasonal in temperate climates.Typical backyard mixed flocks include chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, kinglets, juncos, house finches, pine siskins, and American Goldfinches plus, quite often, a downy woodpecker or two. Actual species mixes vary from place to place.A mixed flock may include as few as a dozen or more then 100 individual birds. They typically sweep through an area, feeding as they go, or may or may not reappear in subsequent days.Come spring, the mixed flocks disintegrate as the individual birds once again resume breeding-season feeding behaviors.

Article by Kevin J. Cook

Published in the 'Backyard Bird Newsletter' - Fall 2004

Nyjer(thistle) Feeder Care

Check nyjer(thistle) feeders frequently as any continuous moisture will clog port holes. Fresh seed is essential to finch feeding. We carry long brushes as well as the new quick release bottoms on tube feeders which will help you with filling and cleaning. Read more

Caring for Bird Baths in the Winter

Water is a vital resource in the daily life of birds. While birdbaths provide this source from the spring through the fall seasons not all birdbaths are suitable for the winter season. Heated birdbaths will help attract birds throughout the frozen season to not only provide a drinking source but a bathing source. Why would a bird need to bath in the winter? When a birds feathers are dirty they do not insulate effectively. There are two approaches to heated setup of birdbaths; a dish with a built in heater or adding a heater to an existing birdbath. Most of the heaters have thermostats built in to hep conserve energy by on turning on when needed. Clay, ceramic, and cement feeders are not ideal for winter use due to the high risk of cracking in the freezing weather. Plastic and metal birdbaths can tolerate the freezing temperatures and with added heating elements can create an inviting environment for birds all winter long!

Featured Product

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